I haven't seen anything relating it to the merger and subsequent cost cutting, but it seems like a hell of a coincidence if it isn't.
What I am worried about is I think I read or heard they want to put focus on IP content that can be turned into franchises. I got a really bad feeling the glory days of HBO being the best place for tv might be ending soon Unless one wants yet more and more spin-offs,reboots and sequels and so forth. Mark my words. David Zaslav will be the worst thing that ever happened to HBO and one of the worst things to ever happen to the tv and film industry.
He already was the latter; during his time at NBC Universal, you saw channels like A&E, History, and Biography start to creep into shitty programming, and then he kicked it up to 11 when he took over Discovery in 2006.
And Showtime is ending The L Word: Generation Q after three seasons; the third season has aired and there will be no fourth. But rumor has it a spin-off of the original The L Word is planned, The L Word: New York.
It really wasn't the L Word without Jenny being "the worst". Maybe I should rewatch Defiance to get my Jenny Fix?